Capitals: Three prospects make the team

Normal teenagers leave home for college, to get a job, or just to leave

Normal teenagers leave home for college, to get a job, orjust to leave. Steve Eminger, Boyd Gordon, and Alex Semin are notnormal teenagers.

The Washington Capitals opened their season Oct. 9 withthree players under 20 years old on the roster. Eminger, Gordon, and Semin weredrafted together in the first round of the 2002 entry draft, and reunited onthe Caps Thursday night.

Gordon was excited to hear his name announced as a member ofthe Caps in what was his NHL debut.

Eminger played on the top defensive pairing. Eminger, aveteran of 17 NHL games, experienced opening night in Washington last season.Semin was a scratch for the game, and will only get spot work early in theseason as he adjusts to the language, culture, and to the American game.

Gordon earned his first NHL assist on the Caps’ first goalof the season during his first shift. Gordon slipped the puck to Jagr whilebeing sandwiched against the boards. Jagr created an opening for himself with anice move in the circle and fired a quick shot past Garth Snow just over twominutes into Washington’s 6-1 win over the New York Islanders.

“I think that was a good way to start,” Gordon said. “I’mplaying with two great players [Jagr and Kip Miller], so I want to takeadvantage of it.”

Gordon displayed a hard-nosed brand of hockey in his firstgame. He fought for every puck, always skated hard and gave an honest effort inhis own end. At this stage in his development, Gordon can be compared toPhoenix Coyotes’ center Jan Hrdina, who was Jagr’s center in his final seasonin Pittsburgh.

“He does remind me a lot [of Hrdina],” Jagr said. “He’s ayoung kid. He’s a great player, but he’s going to get even better. From ourfirst practice together, it surprised me the way he plays.”

Gordon relishes the opportunity to play alongside a talentlike Jagr. The two seem likely to develop chemistry and Gordon hopes to serveas a good complement to his linemates.

“Kip Miller and Jagr are very creative, so I just try to getthem the puck and get open for them,” Gordon said. “[Jagr’s] been good with me.He shows me the ropes and it’s been great so far.”

Washington head coach Bruce Cassidy also said Gordon did agood job in his first NHL game, fitting in well with Miller and Jagr.

“He seemed to have pucks hitting him all the time in passinglanes, on penalty kill, so it tells me he’s in the right place,” Cassidy said.“It didn’t look like he interrupted Miller and Jagr’s chemistry. It was a goodfit tonight.”

Gordon had a successful first game and hopes to continueplaying well enough to stay with the Caps. Gordon is one of only a few playersWashington does not need to pass through waiver to be sent to the PortlandPirates, the team’s AHL affiliate. If Gordon continues to play like he didagainst the Islanders Thursday, he won’t have to worry about that.

“I just try to work hard and skate hard, focus on my defenseand chip in here and there offensively,” Gordon said. “If I can continue to dothat, then I think I can be successful here.”